As parents get their children ready to head back to school, it's just as important for parents to get involved in the classroom.

As parents get their children ready to head back to school, it's just as important for parents to get involved in the classroom.

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Updated: 12:39 PM EDT Sep 3, 2015

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WEBVTT BY SUNDAY AND CERTAINLY MONDAY AND EARLY NEXT WEEK, BACK NEAR 90 WITH THE HUMIDITY YET AGAIN, ADAM. ADAM: THANKS, KEVIN. JUST AS IMPORTANT AS GETTING KIDS INTO THE CLASSROOM IS GETTING PARENTS INVOLVED WITH THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THOM LINEHAN FROM THE UNH CORPORATE EXTENSION. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO DEVELOP A CONNECTION WITH HER CHILD'S SCHOOL? THOM: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. PARENTS ARE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER, AND THAT IS TRUE. WHEN KIDS MAKE A TRANSITION TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME OR THE FIRST TIME THAT YEAR, THE PARENTS BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HOME CULTURE AND SCHOOL CULTURE. ADAM: WHAT ARE TIPS PARENTS CAN TAKE AND USE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATE WELL WITH HER CHILD'S SCHOOL? THOM: BEING A PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOL IS IN THEIR KIDS' BEST INTEREST. IN DOING THAT, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO CONNECT. TRY TO MAKE THE CONNECTION. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE THINGS THE SCHOOL HAS IN PLACE FOR MAKING THAT COMMUNICATION. ADAM: ONCE THAT COMMUNICATION IS INITIATED, WHAT QUESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT? THOM: THAT WILL VARY FROM FAMILY TO FAMILY, BUT USUALLY THINGS LIKE HOMEWORK, SCHEDULE, THE INVITE PARENTS GET ABOUT HOW KIDS ARE DOING IN SCHOOL THAT ONLY PARENTS HEAR ABOUT AND TEACHERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, THAT CAN BE VALUABLE TO THE SCHOOL. ADAM: ANY STRATEGIES PARENTS CAN USE WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH THE SCHOOL? THOM: IT IS NERVE-RACKING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MEETING WITH SCHOOL -- WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH SCHOOL OURSELVES. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET ACROSS, WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE, WHAT WILL MAKE THE SITUATION BETTER. KEEP THE PAST IN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE IN THE FUTURE, THAT CAN HELP. ADAM: WHAT IF THE MEDICATION IS NOT GOING WELL WITH THE SCHOOL? THOM: THE FIRST THING IS TO THINK ABOUT -- WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO COMMUNICATE, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN THE COMMUNICATION, AND WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE IF THINGS GO WELL? THAT COULD MEAN FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEM AND THE SITUATION AND TRYING TO PUT THE PEOPLE THINGS TO ONE SIDE AND FOCUS ON -- HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS LETTER? ADAM: WHAT IS THAT BENEFIT IF YOU HAVE THE OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION? IT IS ALL BEING AIRED OUT, I AM GUESSING. THOM: IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE BEST OF A FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL.

Positive Parenting: Parental involvement in schools

As parents get their children ready to head back to school, it's just as important for parents to get involved in the classroom.